Wellington Webb, Denver’s first black mayor, ripped U.S. House Republican Speaker John Boehner at the Colorado Democrats’ annual fundraiser over the weekend, saying “he has destroyed the myth of white supremacy.”
Former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff also took a shot at Boehner during the event, with his faux Academy Awards presentation where he handed out “Boehners.”
But it was Webb’s remark that has some Colorado Republicans upset, after they saw a tweet about his white supremacy comment while accepting the party’s Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner.
“Colorado Democrats continue to embarrass our state,” said former Colorado Speaker Frank McNulty, of Highlands Ranch. “Mayor Webb should use his position to bring our state together instead of hurling racially charged comments at the U.S. speaker.”
Rick Palacio, chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party, laughed when he heard McNulty’s remarks.
“Colorado Republicans continue to embarrass our state,” Palacio said. “Coloradans were so embarrassed by Republicans that they sent them a message in 2012 and got rid of Frank McNulty as speaker and sent him to the minority, where he lobs his baseless attacks on the party in charge.”
But Joshua Sharf, a Denver Republican, blogger and former legislative candidate, also was taken aback by Webb’s comment.
“Politics is full of sharp elbows, to be sure,” he said. “But given the Democrats’ history on race, Webb’s throwing stones from glass houses. Their coalition and policies are always explicitly race-conscious: first for Southern whites, now minorities.
“Republicans want everyone to succeed regardless of race.”
A Google search shows Webb repeated a line used before. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., used the myth of white supremacy phrase in reference to President George W. Bush when asked about the economy in 2008.
Webb’s remarks came after he praised Colorado’s two Democratic U.S. senators, Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, and mentioned a fight with the Supreme Court.
“But Mark, it’s getting easier because they have John Boehner and John Boehner’s proved once and for all, he has destroyed the myth of white supremacy. Because he ain’t that smart,” Webb said, to laughter and applause.
Afterward, Webb said the Supreme Court issue he is referring to involves the 1965 Voting Rights Act, designed to prevent racial discrimination at the polls, and a division among justices as to whether a key provision in it is still is needed.
As for Romanoff, who now is running for Congress, over the years he has delighted Democrats at the JJ Dinner with his play on the Academy Awards. When McNulty heard what Romanoff said, he burst out laughing.
“Andrew Romanoff has a great sense of humor,” he said.
Romanoff presented awards from “The Republican Academy for the Censorship and Denial of Science,” honoring the “most tearjerking award in a major melodrama, the awards known as the ‘Boehners.’” Because of cutbacks due to sequestrian, he said the academy had reduced the number of awards to one category, to a Republican in a “misleading role.”
The nominees, according to Romanoff:
Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham in “Beasts of the Southern Wild.”
Rick Santorum in “Magic Mike,” Michele Bachman, producer.
Newt Gingrich in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” Sheldon Adelson, producer.
Rick Perry in “Total Recall.”
And the winner goes to — Mitt Romney, in “The Departed,” the American people, producer.